To the Yukon Department of Renewable Resources
Re: Key Habitat Maps

Current Status:

Key habitat maps are produced by the Habitat Section of the Yukon Department of Renewable Resources on 1:250,000 scale map sheets. The maps show areas that are known to be important to wildlife mainly based on information contributed by YDRR staff. Each map shows where the areas are and what type of animal uses them. Each year the maps are added to if new information is received by the Habitat Section of the Department of Renewable Resources.

Concern:

The maps consist of lines drawn around particular areas and icons indicating which species is involved and the season of the year when the habit is needed (e.g. caribou winter range). This is often not enough information to make a convincing case at environmental and land use type hearings for protecting the area. More specific information is required.

RECOMMENDATION to YDRR:

The Council recommends that the Yukon Department of Renewable Resources invite some Yukon community representatives to discuss their requirements for the Key habitat maps so that they may be more useful to the communities and also, so that the communities will begin to contribute information from other sources to the mapping program.